Seahawks fly south to knock off IR field hockey 5-0

Sussex Academy field hockey moved to 7-1 following its 5-0 away win over southern rival Indian River Oct. 1. It was the girls’ third shutout in a row and fourth overall in the Henlopen Conference.

Captain Ryan Lowe got the Seahawks on the board four-and-a-half minutes into the game after fellow captain Rilyn Lehman drew the attention of the defense and Lowe had space to get off one of her rockets. Sussex Academy doubled its lead less than five minutes later when captain Shelby Manlove buried a pass from Lente Werner for the final goal of the first half.

IR kept things close to start the third quarter, but strong defense and solid goalie play from Seahawks junior Kacie Rawlings kept the home team off the board. Sussex Academy began generating looks in the transition game, leading to Lehman tipping in a pass from senior Emma Campbell for the Seahawks’ third goal with just over 20 minutes left. 

With the cushion, Sussex Academy started enlisting younger players into action for the closing minutes of the third quarter but did not miss a beat on offense. Eighth-graders Mady Lehman and Audrey Snyder worked their magic for the Seahawks' fourth goal, as Lehman got a pass off right before the defender closed in and Snyder beat a talented goalie, Jazmin Mayfield, through the five-hole.

To open the final quarter, eighth-grader Emma Orlen fought through defenders in front of the cage to get her stick on the ball and net the fifth and final goal.

Despite the 5-0 disparity, Sussex Academy only outshot IR 15-11 and the visitors’ eight corners were two more than the home team. Rawlings ended the game with six saves, while Mayfield had four.

Sussex Academy will be off for a week before the squad heads east to take on Division I reigning state champion Cape at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8.

The 7-1 Seahawks are off to the best start in program history.